Expert: Ties with Vietnam mark start of Azerbaijan’s Asian outreach strategy

Vietnam’s growing prominence as an economic and geopolitical player in Asia presents new strategic opportunities for Azerbaijan, according to Rovshan Ibrahimov, a political analyst, professor, and PhD at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea. 

In an interview with the YouTube channel Caliber.Az, Ibrahimov discussed the implications of the recent state visit to Baku by To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, emphasising it as a pivotal moment in Azerbaijan’s evolving foreign policy in Asia.

“Vietnam is one of the most rapidly developing nations today,” Ibrahimov noted. “Its population has recently surpassed 100 million. A significant number of manufacturing operations, including South Korean enterprises, have relocated from China to Vietnam due to its lower labour costs, reduced economic risks, and favourable climate. The absence of winter further lowers production costs. Politically, the country remains under communist governance, but its economic system follows a liberal, open-market model.”

"Hanoi is recognised as one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The country is inexpensive and open to tourism; flights to Vietnam are significantly cheaper than to other countries in the region. There are direct flights from South Korea — 3 to 4 flights per day," he said.

Vietnam also shares a long-standing connection with Azerbaijan. Ibrahimov recalled that during the Soviet era, close ties were forged, particularly in the oil and education sectors. “The historical links go back to the days of Ho Chi Minh and Heydar Aliyev,” he explained. “The first two heads of Vietnam’s state oil company were Azerbaijani. Thousands of Vietnamese students studied in Azerbaijan during Soviet times — a tradition that continues to this day.”

Modern Vietnam, Ibrahimov pointed out, is characterised by a high level of educational attainment and a strong drive to further develop its academic and technical capacity. “Today, many Vietnamese students are studying in South Korea. Unlike in the past, they now prefer to learn Korean rather than Russian. Korean cultural influence in Vietnam is immense, from coffee shops to manufacturing plants. It’s common for young Vietnamese to aspire to careers in South Korean companies. Korean integration is so deep that many children of Korean expatriates in Vietnam no longer necessarily consider Korea their homeland,” he said.

According to Ibrahimov, the deepening relationship between Azerbaijan and Vietnam is not just symbolic but reflects a broader strategic direction in Baku’s foreign policy — one focused on diversifying its partnerships across Asia.

“This is only the beginning,” he concluded.

The full interview with Rovshan Ibrahimov is available via the Caliber.Az YouTube channel.

By Tamilla Hasanova